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PU505 - Health Behavior Theory: Unit 4 Assignment - Creating Goals and Objectives

Kimberly Crawford

Kaplan University

November 11, 2016

Health Behavior Theory Goals and Objectives

Obesity is a common health problem in the US, which affects a significant number of individuals. Being obese or overweight increases the risks of being affected by other diseases and therefore there is a need to take vital steps to tackle obesity. Obesity can lead to a number of fatal and possibly life-threatening illnesses, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, some cancers, and stroke among others. In addition to this, obesity can affect one's way and quality of life and cause some psychological problems, such as low self-esteem and depression.

The development of a health promotion program that supports a healthy lifestyle involves the use of theories and models that guide the process. Health behavior theories assists in explaining the reasons communities and individuals behave the way they do and planners utilize this to increase the effectiveness of the program. Some of the theories related to obesity include the health belief model, which involves the willingness to take action on fitness behavior based on several personal principles. The second theory is the socio-ecological model, which addresses behavior change at several levels and consider inter-relationship between the environment and behavior. The third theory is the stages of change, which accounts for one's readiness to make and sustain behavior changes (Simpson 2015).

Goal 1: Creation of a community that promotes and supports healthy food choices and physical activity

The reason for selecting this goal is to reduce the risk of obesity among children and adults within the community by employing achievable strategies

Objective 1: decrease the number of adults who consume one or more high sugar drinks in a day within a month

Objective 2: increase the number of grownups who participate in rest time physical activity within two months

Goal 2: prevent obesity among children through early child-car and schools

The reason for selecting this goal is to reduce childhood obesity by taking the necessary steps including physical activity and healthy eating. Additionally, incorporate the same strategy within the schools in the region to ensure maximum results.

Objective 1: increase the number of education institutions participating in incorporating food procedures that observe the healthy food recommendations

Objective 2: increase the number of education institutions that meet or surpass the principles (120 minutes per week) for physical education

Goal 3: expand the role of private and public employers in the prevention of obesity

The reason for this goal is to include companies and other employment organizations within the region to participate in reducing obesity. This will assist in achieving the goal of reducing obesity among working adults within the region

Objective 1: increase by 10% the number of worksites that offer their employees worksite wellness programs including employees with disabilities

Objective 2: increase the number of worksites that support breastfeeding at the worksite (CDC, 2015).

Challenges

One of the main challenges in achieving these goals is the inability to ensure that the community in large participates in the program. Secondly, it is hard to measure the physical activity particularly among children, which may hinder the attainment of the desired results. Thirdly, some worksites may lack the resources to have a wellness program within the worksite to support the wellness of all employees. The other challenge involved in this program is determining how to implement the intervention in order to achieve maximum coverage and results (Koplan, Liverman, & Kraak 2005).

References

CDC. (2015). Community Efforts | Overweight & Obesity | CDC. Cdc.gov. Retrieved 12 November 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/strategies/community.html

Koplan, J. P., Liverman, C. T., & Kraak, V. A. (Eds.). (2005). Preventing childhood obesity: health in the balance. National Academies Press.

Simpson, V. (2015). Models and Theories to Support Health Behavior Intervention and Program Planning (1st ed., pp. 1-5). Purdue School of Nursing. Retrieved from https://extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/HHS/HHS-792-W.pdf